BLACKNESS:
The voice of BASS REEVES, black Deputy Marshal in the Indian Territories.
BASS REEVES (V.O.)
"If I was made another's slave,
By Nature's law designed,
Why was an independent wish
E'er planted in my mind?
If not, why am I subject to
His cruelty and scorn?
Or why has man the will and power
To make his fellow mourn?"
FADE IN:
EXT. INDIAN TERRITORIES, TAHLEQUAH - NIGHT
Poor Indian town.
SUPER: May 5, 1887.
INT. HOUSE - NIGHT
Early evening, house of Jennie Schell in Tahlequah, Indian Territories.
This is the Cherokee Nation and all the people in this scene are Cherokee. JENNIE SCHELL sells illegal whiskey that her lover, JOHN PARRIS, smuggles down from Kansas.  The house has two rooms separated by a dog run.  One room is a bedroom.  The other is the kitchen, which serves as a bar.  NED CHRISTIE is sitting on the floor, seriously drunk.  He wears a distinctive leather coat. Parris enters with CHARLEY BOBTAIL and BUD TRAINOR.  Bud carries a case of whiskey bottles.
JOHN PARRIS
Well, looks like Ned is having his own little party.
JENNIE SCHELL
It's a quiet little party.  He hardly moves.
CHARLEY BOBTAIL
Hi, Ned.
NED CHRISTIE
Chaaaarley.
JOHN PARRIS
(To Jennie, referring to the bottles.)
Don't put those up yet.  We heard on the way that a white marshal is coming with liquor writs in our names.
NED CHRISTIE
A white marshal?
JENNIE SCHELL
Liquor warrants?  Get those bottles out of here.
CHARLEY BOBTAIL
If the Cherokee police don't want to arrest us, what does a marshal care?
BUD TRAINOR
The Lighthorse are scared to arrest us so they run to the marshal.
NED CHRISTIE
(Getting up slowly.)
We are Cherokee.  We have the old laws.  No white marshal will put me in irons.   Tow me to Fort Smith.
Christie weaves his way out the door.
BUD TRAINOR
His party's over.
CHARLEY BOBTAIL
Goodnight, Ned.
NED CHRISTIE
Tow me to Fort Smith.
JOHN PARRIS
Okay, pour us all a drink and then we'll clean up for the marshal.
JENNIE SCHELL
Pour your own - I'm leaving.  That marshal may ride faster than you three can drink.
Leaves.
EXT. WOODS - NIGHT
Moonlit near Tahlequah.
GEORGE JEFFERSON is DEPUTY MAPLES's posseman.  He helps guard prisoners but is not expected to fight.  Both he and Maples are white. They are on horseback, above a small, wooded river.
GEORGE JEFFERSON
Are we going into Tahlequah tonight, Dan?
DEPUTY MAPLES
No.  We'll save the excitement for the morning.  They're just liquor warrants anyway.  Let's cross down there at the ford and camp the other side.
They ride their horses down into the trees.
GEORGE JEFFERSON
(Seeing the gleam of a big pistol barrel.)
Watch out!
The assailant fires, shooting Maples out of the saddle.  Jefferson fires back, causing his horse to buck him off.  The assailant steps out and visible only from behind.  He wears the distinctive coat Christie had on.  He and Jefferson empty their pistols at each other to no effect, and Maples fires four more shots, ineffectively, as he dies.  The assailant then moves back into the darkness and rides off.  Jefferson is unable to catch his horse in time to pursue.
